In the days before the pandemic, business trips typically spanned an average of three days, often involving conferences or seminars in another city, while leisure trips were reserved for holidays and weekends. However, Covid-19 reshaped our understanding of ‘workspace’, highlighting its flexibility and the ability to work from any location. So, why limit travel to just a day when business and leisure can seamlessly blend?
The emergence of “bleisure” is gaining momentum as worldwide business travel expenditure is recovering quicker than anticipated, predicted to surpass the pre-Covid figure of $1.4 trillion by 2024, reaching close to $1.8 trillion by 2027, given steady economic conditions.
This swift resurgence is due to pent-up demand, more in-person meetings and corporate events, and the absence of economic recessions, as detailed in the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)’s recent yearly forecast. The bounce-back is ahead of the earlier estimate of mid-2026, with continuous growth on the horizon.
Bleisure as a rising concept can be attributed to the modern work environment, redefined by technological advancements, which now provides professionals with the flexibility to merge work commitments with leisure travel, also known as “workcations”.
Remote working, propelled by cloud-based technologies, has encouraged today’s workforce to move away from traditional office setups, giving them the freedom to travel while working and extend business trips for leisure.
An increasing number of millennials in the workforce, and the popularity of online platforms that streamline planning trips, have also significantly contributed to this tendency. Just this year, global business travel spending is expected to grow 32 percent in 2023 to $1.36 trillion.
Nomadic’s data shows that business trips are getting longer after Covid-19, especially in places like the UAE that support this new way of travelling through exceptional digital nomad programmes, freelancer permits, and other available types of visas.
Approximately 62 percent of the business travellers polled by GBTA indicated they now combine work and leisure trips more often than in 2019, with 42 percent extending their business journeys with extra leisure days.
As per Mastercard’s report, leisure flight reservations in the UAE saw a 12 percent rise in March 2023 compared to March 2019, showing an increasing demand in this sector as well.
Such a transition, initially perceived as opportunistic, now garners appreciation in the corporate space, from employers and employees alike. In fact, combining work and leisure is not just a logistical convenience but a potent tool to boost productivity and enhance overall job satisfaction.
Dubai as the top destination
The Middle East, particularly the UAE, is embracing the rise of bleisure through significant immigration advancements. A survey of MENA region working professionals by Bayt revealed that 92 percent of respondents have the essential resources to perform their jobs remotely.
Through the UAE’s landmark introduction of remote work visas in March 2021, Dubai has emerged as the top destination of choice for remote workers in Savills Executive Nomad Index, which has ranked the city high for its quality of life, air connectivity, and digital infrastructure.
Around 58 countries offer a ‘digital nomad’ visa – and this number is constantly growing.
Efficient short-term immigration solutions of business visa categories are pivotal to support the burgeoning demand in bleisure travel.
A software that digitalises the process with features like Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to expedite online applications, and unique traveller profiles to remove repetitive data entries can significantly streamline this.
Real-time GPS functionality ensures travellers are updated on visa validity, while API integration allows seamless data flow into client systems. Continuous updates are crucial, especially with evolving post-pandemic travel protocols.
Using artificial intelligence not only refines processes but also personalises services, ensuring timely and accurate solutions. As the global workforce embraces flexibility in bleisure, technology’s role in streamlining compliant immigration solutions has become indispensable.
Bleisure offers businesses increased staff retention, as non-monetary benefits often retain millennials. It also enhances customer interactions, as employees become familiar with local customs, turning meetings into enriching exchanges.
Moreover, it’s cost-effective, boosting productivity and reducing employee turnover. For employees, bleisure ensures a better work-life balance, promotes personal growth through varied experiences, and offers cost-efficient vacations by leveraging work-funded travel expenses.
In summary, bleisure is not just a trend but a reflection of today’s evolving work culture, promising both professional efficacy and personal enrichment. As organisations recognise its implicit value, it stands poised to redefine corporate travel norms in the years to come.